PdP candidate ready for battle

David Walrond is ready to represent the people of St George North at a higher level.

The People’s Party for Democracy and Development’s (PdP) candidate made that perfectly clear this morning after paying his deposit at the Treasury to ensure his name is on the ballot for the November 11 by-election in that constituency.

In an interview with members of the media outside of the National Housing Corporation’s Country Road, St Michael headquarters, Walrond said having served the people of St George North in several capacities, he was now prepared to become their Member of Parliament in the House of Assembly.

With campaign manager Caswell Franklyn, party leader Bishop Joseph Atherley and fellow PdP member Paul Gibson present to support him, Walrond maintained that he was the man for the job.

“I have a history of representing the people of St George North. For me this is just moving it to the next level. The other candidates, none of them can say what I say. None of them can say that they have represented St George North,” Walrond contended.

“I have represented that constituency from my heart. As a member of the Constituency Council I was supported and I was voted for and supported a lot of persons in St George North who would have had mobility issues, who would have been falling below the poverty line.

“I also would have had the opportunity as a District Emergency Organisation person, as a disaster manager, I would have had the opportunity in Lily and in Tomas (weather systems) and in other situations like flooding, to help represent the people of St George North. So this is just another move to further the works I have already started. It is all about the people of St George North and proper representation,” he added.

Walrond said he was extremely confident about his chances ahead of the by-election, which will see five other candidates vying to replace Gline Clarke, who vacated the position on September 30.

“I am confident and my confidence comes from the people. The fact that people know me and they know what I’ve done, they know that I am from among them and they know that I am about them and their proper representation,” he said.

While he is also gearing up to take part in the two live political debates scheduled for October 29 and November 6, Walrond chose not to offer a comment on how he has been preparing for those events.

Bishop Atherley also used the opportunity to brush aside concerns raised by Solutions Barbados’ leader Grenville Phillips II, that the PdP had chosen the colour green despite the fact that it was already the colour of Solutions Barbados.

Phillips II had suggested that it had led to some confusion for residents of St George North during campaigning.

However, Atherley described the accusation as “puerile” and one which did not merit much of a response.

“That maybe is an issue for you, it’s not an issue for us, it’s not an issue for me, it’s not an issue for PdP. We don’t indulge in puerile peripheral issues,” he said in a brief response.

(randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)